⬣//A SINGLE CRACK LETS THE LIGHT IN.

[cccorp]

>>UNTITLED ROOT TOWN // >>FUTURE // >>PROGRESS? // >>HE HUNGERS // >>Zelkova Corner

⬣//BRAVELY SAILING INTO THE UNKNOWN

As they say, fortune favors the brave. Five lucky players took part in a Limited Quest: The Mysterious Sky Islands, in which they discovered a brand new Root Town. While the team was largely successful in their efforts to make the mysterious floating town in the sky habitable, not everyone embraced the spirit of teamwork on this journey.

When you gate in to this shiny new Root Town, you'll notice something curious: it has no name. Its name simply displays as "???" in every context menu and there is no signage around the Root Town itself that points to its true name— rather, the name it had before they came along.

Whispers on the wind tell of an evil wizard in flowing white robes who ruthlessly boiled the village elder alive. With him died all of this mysterious Root Town's lore and history, and in its place are tales of the monster who robbed this land of its identity. The elemental sprites that populate this village refuse to speak their name, simply wishing you "good luck, have fun!" as you turn to leave.

While on your journey to check out the island, you'll notice how unstable the bridges are. Unstable might be putting it lightly, because for some unlucky souls, crossing the wrong bridge means plummeting to your death. It seems that whoever was put in charge of constructing these bridges didn't give a damn about structural integrity.

The local sprites are pleading with adventurers to assist them in building better, more stable bridges, but bridging the gap between one island and the next is not a job for a single person. If you have enough of a heart to heed the pleas of the sprites, you'll want to work with your fellow players to get the job done. All the wood, nails, and rope you need to construct better bridges has been helpfully supplied to you by the sprites. You could always sabotage the project too, of course, but what kind of person would you be if you did that?

⬣//BUILDING THE FUTURE

The professions system has been added to fragment. Rejoice, busybodies, for there is much furniture to be built and dubious potions brewed.

In celebration of the new crafting & gathering system, a crafts festival is being held in the Unnamed Root Town. Take care not to plummet to your death while traversing those rickety bridges.

Players are encouraged to set up a booth of their own and trade their unique handcrafted items with their fellow adventurers. In addition to being supplied with enough level 1 and level 2 crafting materials to give the crafting system a spin, the local NPCs are running a contest encouraging people to come up with their own for a chance to have their creations canonized as real crafting recipes.

To submit your own recipe ideas, you need only fill out this handy form:

Recipe name:

Recipe category: Alchemist, Carpenter, Chef, or Jeweler?

Which two items does your recipe call for? Choose two items to combine. Only gatherable items (refer to the professions page) can be used.

Effect: What does this item do, if anything?

Description: A brief description of your lovely new product.

<b>Recipe name:</b> <b>Recipe category:</b> <b>Which two items does your recipe call for?</b> <b>Effect:</b> <b>Description:</b>

Submit your recipe contest submissions here.

⬣//ONE STEP FORWARD, TWO STEPS BACK

Fragment's beta test has seen its fair share of unusual bugs and unintended features, and with the latest update bringing many new changes, it's inevitable that some things have broken behind the scenes.

If two players happen to log in at the same time, they might find their avatars swapped with one another's. Thankfully, this issue doesn't lead to the unpleasant exchange of deep-seated memories or anything of the sort, but getting used to a body that isn't yours takes time. Thankfully, this particular bug resolves itself when both players log out.

The windy town of Unnamed Root Town is generally quite scenic and pleasant, but there's just one issue. It's far, far windier than it should be. If the rickety bridges don't kill you, the gusts that intermittently blow across the sky islands might knock you off your feet if you don't watch your footing carefully. Thankfully, the crafts festival on the southernmost end of the island hasn't been impacted by the severe winds. Among them is one voice that you don't recognize: a voice that promises a death, gruesome and bloody, in the days to come.

To everyone's relief, the carnival and its notorious hall of mirrors has packed up and left Lumina Cloth, but your past hasn't finished haunting you. The foul winds carry whispers of the past along with them, uttering words and phrases uncomfortably familiar to you. They're the voices of your past, the voices of people you've known, loved, and lost. Covering your ears won't keep the voices out of your ears. Nothing will.

Finally, on the more mundane some of things, professions have a few kinks of their own that need to be worked out. Occasionally, a crafted item won't come out quite right, instead resulting in one of the following "items":

Alchemist: Truth Serum. Become unable to lie for 24 hours.

Blacksmith: Whatever you're enhancing transforms into a denim disaster. Introducing your new "body" armor, "leg" armor, "head" armor, and "arm" armor.

Carpenter: Mirror Mirror. Reflects the person you're most afraid of becoming.

Chef: Durian Delight. A succulent durian pudding that reeks so strongly that its stench can be smelled all across the Root Town or Area you're occupying.

Jeweler: Crystal Ball. Breaks after one use but allows you to read another player's thoughts for five minutes.

⬣//WHAT ARE YOU, AN IDIOT SANDWICH?

With crafting in full swing, a certain admin has been lured out of his hidey hole by the smell of delicious chef-prepared meals. Hien is hungry, and you will feed him.

Chefs are not limited by the recipes they know like some professions are, so players are encouraged to think outside of the box and combine unique ingredients to cook up something truly special.

Taste, however, isn't the only important part of a perfect meal. Chefs looking to impress the big man himself are expected to present their culinary delights to him with pomp and finesse. You need to impress Hien if you want to gain more from this venture than the participation prize of a chef skin.

Those who successfully woo Hien with their delectable dishes will be given an additional prize: a little black pomchi pet to accompany their avatar around Root Towns and Special Areas. Hien will be giving these out at his discretion, so you better suck up to the dogboss in charge if you want a pomchi of your very own. If you catch Hien in a good mood, he may even agree to give you a different breed of dog if you ask nicely.

Feed the local Hien here.

⬣//ZELKOVA’S CORNER

Hello, everyone! Can you believe it's been an entire month since our beta test began? Even though we've already been through a lot together, we've still got three months left! I'm rooting for you all!

As of today, the level cap has increased from 25 to 50. That means new armor and weapons will be available to you! Get out there to different Areas and start leveling up! But don't forget to stop every once in a while and enjoy your surroundings, too. Which reminds me—don't forget to check out the new Recreational Areas! We have a beach and hotsprings for you to enjoy now. I hope everyone continues to have fun exploring!

We've also opened up the GP shop, where you can create your own special armor set for a certain price, along with a few other things. Please check it out!

Oh, and don't forget to use these three new greeting cards I've made! Here they are! Make sure you use them so you can connect with your fellow players! We're all friends here, after all.

>>Navigation

Comments

[weaseled]

[Fai of all people should know better. The look of concern on Yael's face quickly sours (read: him pouting), holding fast to Fai's arm but allowing him a chance to pull himself the rest of the way back onto the island.]

You sure about that? You're flimsier than a wet Q-tip.

[fluorite]

I'm not that weak.

[ It's a little hard to do, but he manages to get a bit of footing on the stone, using that to help him up.

A much weaker gust of wind comes along, however, and his expression quickly darkens.

Wordlessly, Fai pulls himself up the rest of the way. ]

[weaseled]

[...Fai has been cagey lately. He's withdrawn from him in small but substantial ways, disinclined to admit to what's bothering him. Normally, those are things Yael would leave well enough alone, but even after Fai has dragged himself up onto solid ground, Yael keeps a loose grip on his arm. Tightens his fingers just enough to remind him that he's here, seeking out Fai's gaze even if he isn't eager to return it.]

I never said you were weak.

[fluorite]

[ He isn't, not at first, but he does eventually look back up at Yael. Though this time, he's smiling. ]

Well, you did use different words.

[ It's hard to tell if he's joking or if he's prodding and poking in an attempt to get a reaction from Yael. He knows Yael doesn't think he's weak, he sure of it, but with everything on his mind and those voices on the wind? He's not in the best mood. ]

[weaseled]

There you go putting words in my mouth. Well, suit yourself.

[If Fai has something important to say, he better man up and use his big boy words. For the time being, a question.]

Why are you here?

[His question is vague. Intentionally so.]

[fluorite]

[ He can tell it's intentionally vague, which immediately raises his hackles. ]

What do you mean?

[weaseled]

[Fair enough. As a consequence, Yael is much more blunt.]

Here when you're in such a piss poor mood. Here when the damn wind's whispering shit you don't want to hear into your ears. Here when you're pissed off at me and too chickenshit to tell me why.

[fluorite]

[ Ah.

Is it really that obvious? He didn't think so, but maybe he should have expected Yael to pick up on it anyway. ]

Have you considered I like spending time with you in spite of all that?

[ The "you jerk" at the end of his question goes unsaid, but Yael is free to fill it in. ]

[weaseled]

[Of course it's obvious. It's been obvious since the day they met up with Fandaniel for lunch and idle threats. It's been obvious that Fai would rather Yael tear the truth out of him than cough it up and let him deal with it through open, honest communication.

But despite it all, he isn't mad at Fai. Not in the least. Yael takes the initiative to sidle closer to Fai and throw a heavy arm around his shoulders, bringing him in close.]

We can talk anywhere, Yuui. Go anywhere. We don't need to sit around here and make both of ourselves miserable.

[And yet Yael is just as bad, braving the whispers of his past to build this goddamned bridge. They're both idiots, but that's what makes them such a fine pair, no?]

Man... You really are a masochist. You should get your head checked.

[fluorite]

[ It's almost embarrassing, the way hearing his own name from Yael's lips brings his turbulent emotions down to a simmer. He lets himself be pulled in, laughing softly as he shakes his head. ]

And what about you, hmm? You're building a bridge even though you obviously hate it and would rather be doing anything else.

[ Don't think he didn't notice despite his shitty mood. ]

You weirdo.

[weaseled]

[Stop! You fool! Don't call him out for doing a good deed! Yael's response to that is a beleaguered sigh and a broad sweep of his arms. You seeing this, Fai? There are other players hard at work on the bridge project, however—]

You trust any of these people to build a functional bridge? Get real. I had to repair damn near everything in the orphanage back in Egypt.

[He'd have made some actual progress if it weren't for those nasty voices whispering in his ears.]

Well, nothing for it. I'd rather be anywhere but here. Put your swimsuit on.

[fluorite]

Want to see me in a swimsuit that badly, do you?

[ Fai laughs as he hops up and holds out both of his hands for Yael. It's not one he's looking for an answer to, however, as he immediately asks something else. ]

You've always been really caring, haven't you? I'm not surprised you were the unofficial maintenance man at the orphanage.

[weaseled]

I've already seen you naked. If you'd rather go in the nude, I won't complain.

[But there might be other people there, Fai. Think of the children.

Yael takes Fai's hands and rights himself, opening up his context menu and eyeing their options. Hm. Hot springs or beach...]

Don't get me wrong. I just didn't want to sleep with the rain dripping on me because there were holes in the roof and other kids screaming at me through the gaps in my door. If I didn't fix those things, the caretakers sure as hell wouldn't have bothered.

[fluorite]

[ Just for that, he's tempted to leave the pixels on. But he just tilts his head as Yael eyes their options. ]

You couldn't get to sleep thinking about how other kids were going to have to deal with rain dripping on them in the middle of the night. Got it.

[weaseled]

[Ah. Nailed it.]

Hey. Do we know what happens when someone falls off this damn island?

[Asking for a friend. :) ]

[fluorite]

They probably die.

[ He playfully shoves at Yael. ]

Stop being a coward and do it. Or warp us somewhere else.

[weaseled]

Fine, fine. Don't start bitching at me already.

[Hehe. Settling on their next venue, Yael warps them to the hot springs, and...]

...It's hot as hell. Who builds a hot springs in the middle of hell?

[fluorite]

[ Fai pokes his cheek, trying to interrupt Yael's own bitching. ]

It's called a hot springs. Isn't hell the best location?

[weaseled]

[Ugh!! Yael swats at the offending hand and trudges towards the inn.]

Hell no. A hot springs belongs somewhere snowy and cold like the mountains. Contrast is important.

[fluorite]

[ He grins, shuffling after Yael before overtaking him on their way to the inn. ]

Who knew you were so picky with things like that? It's kind of cute.

[ Fai, on the other hand, isn't too picky. A hot springs is the same to him regardless of the location... even if the heat gets to him. ]

[weaseled]

[Yael lets Fai eagerly shuffle on ahead. Yael is used to the oppressive heat, so he'll manage, but he has half a mind to tell Hienry to move the hot springs to a tundra map. He can do that, right? Yeah. Admin privilege.]

Looks like there's an inn attached. Wouldn't it be embarrassing to fall asleep while logged in?

[fluorite]

It's not for other purposes...?

[ Just wondering aloud as he opens up the door to the inn so he can take a look around. ]

[weaseled]

What are you trying to imply? You stay at an inn to sleep. Pull your mind out of the gutter.

[The inn sure does look like a Japanese-style inn. The NPCs manning the counter bow in greeting, one hand outstretched to beckon them to sign in. Yael glances towards Fai.]

How about it? We staying?

[fluorite]

[ It's a nice looking inn, so in lieu of answering, Fai goes ahead and signs them both in. ]

Why not? It's nice enough, even if we embarrass ourselves by falling asleep logged in.

[ Hehe.

The NPCs give them both a little room key that immediately attaches itself to their inventories. Fai steps aside and motions for Yael to walk ahead of him. ]

Well, lead the way.

[weaseled]

[And lead he does, ambling down tight lacquered hallways and stopping before their inn room. The lock opens with a muted click, the doors sliding apart on a track. It's all quite foreign to Yael — literally — and the first thing he does when they enter the room is gawk at the futon on the floor.]

Weird. They left a blanket out on the floor.

[Ha. Haha.]